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La Liga: Osasuna 3 Atletico Madrid 0

Atletico Madrid gifted bitter rivals Real Madrid an advantage in the La Liga title race after losing 3-0 at Osasuna on Sunday.

Published

23 February 2014

Defending champions Barcelona lost to Real Sociedad and Real beat Elche on Saturday to go three points clear, meaning anything other than a win for Atletico would see Carlo Ancelotti's men edge ahead in the fascinating three-team tussle.

Alvaro Cejudo got the ball rolling for the hosts as he buried a well-worked corner just six minutes in and the provider of that delivery – Emiliano Armenteros – netted his side's second with a wonderful strike 25 yards from goal.

Things went from bad to worse for Diego Simeone's men three minutes before the break as Roberto Torres nodded a Damia cross in, giving the visitors a mountain to climb in the second half.

After losing to Almeria early this month, Atletico suffered their second defeat from their last three league games to raise more doubts over the club's title credentials.

And up next is the visit of neighbours Real next Sunday, with the performance against Osasuna suggesting that Simeone's side will need to significantly improve at a key juncture in Atletico's season.

Left-back Filipe Luis returned to Atletico's starting line-up following a thigh strain, but coach Simeone rested key trio Miranda, Arda Turan and Koke, with all three starting on the bench.

Osasuna got off to the perfect start and took the lead within six minutes as the unmarked Cejudo turned in Armenteros' deep corner after arriving late at the back post.

Mario Suarez was in the right place at the right time four minutes later as Cejudo's right-wing cross looked destined to be knocked in by Oriol Riera, but the Atletico midfielder flicked it away with an important header.

Atletico were punished again after 21 minutes, however. Armenteros was given too much time and space about 25 yards from goal and the Argentine belted an unstoppable drive past the powerless Thibaut Courtois.

With half-time approaching quickly, Torres amazingly put the hosts three up as he burst between Diego Godin and Toby Alderweireld to head Damia's cross into the bottom-left corner.

Atletico were almost gifted a way back into the contest in the 57th minute as Jordan Loties sliced Filipe's cross towards his own goal, but luckily for Javi Gracia's men it flew just wide.

Simeone had made all three of his changes by the 61st minute as Koke, Turan and former Osasuna star Raul Garcia all came on, but still Atletico struggled to cut through a well-organised defence.

Cejudo should have scored a second 18 minutes from time as Riera looped a pass over Godin for the winger, but his first touch was poor and his eventual shot only found the side netting.

Atletico nearly pulled one back through Garcia in the 77th minute as he volleyed Koke's delivery wide from a tight angle but Osasuna held on to crank up the pressure on Simeone and his players heading into next weekend's Madrid derby.